Let Old Anne Zines

Or something like that. The most important part is that we remember old friends – like the ones we made way back in 2013!

Not to brag or anything, but 2013 was a great year for Better Said Than Done. Not only did we grow our storytelling audience (with over 130 attending our 2 year anniversary show!), but we also added to our wonderful list of storytellers, our selection of storytelling workshops, and the fantastic venues where we host our storytelling shows.

Here’s a brief recap of the year in storytelling in Northern Virginia.

January: At our January storytelling show at Epicure Cafe in Fairfax, Virginia, we heard stories from a great cast of experienced storytellers about their brushes with fame.

February: We donated all proceeds of our first storytelling show in February, at the Walker Nature Education Center, to the Friends of Reston for Community Projects. At our second show of the month, back at Epicure Cafe, we welcomed two first time storytellers – Mary Supley Foxworth and Shawn Westfall. They have both since returned to our ever growing cast of talented storytellers.

March: In March, we not only had one very nerdy storytelling show – Geek Chic – but Jessica Piscitelli Robinson, founder of Better Said Than Done, was interviewed by one very cool guy, Ken Plum, on his TV show, “The Virginia Report.”

April: In April, we announced the storytellers who had received the most votes out of the Better Said Than Done cast. The top ten storytellers again were: Mike Baireuther, Noa Baum, Kevin Boggs, Jason Conner, Dustin Fisher, Cara Foran, David Supley Foxworth, Jennifer Luu, Anna Marie Trester and Michael Zhuang.

May: In May, we celebrated two great years of storytelling in Virginia with an anniversary show and contest. We hosted the show at The Auld Shebeen in Fairfax, where David Supley Foxworth and Anna Marie Trester tied for third place, Cara Foran took second, and Jennifer Luu won first place in audience votes. It was also announced in May that Better Said Than Done was voted “The Best Performing Arts Company in Virginia” by readers of Virginia Living Magazine. Voting opens on January 2nd for 2014, so we hope you will vote for us again.
June: In June we performed a storytelling showcase at The Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA, as well as our usual storytelling show at Epicure Cafe.

July: July’s show was awkward, but not because of any of the experienced storytellers or our first time storyteller, Ann Cavazos. Mostly because host Chuck Na made it uncomfortable for anyone to follow up his awesomeness.

August: We took August off due to terrible heat and having a baby. (No, not all of us, although that would have made a great story!)

September: Better Said Than Done joined George Mason University’s Fall for the Book Festival with a panel discussion on storytelling and a storytelling show at The Auld Shebeen. As if that weren’t enough, we hosted another benefit for Friends of Reston in which we welcomed first time storytellers Donna Davis and Richard Barr.

October: First time storytellers Kathy Baird and Soledad Roybal joined the cast at The Auld Shebeen for October’s show.
November: In November, Jessica Robinson lead two advanced storytelling workshops. Additionally, Better Said Than Done hosted the last storytelling show of the year at The Auld Shebeen in Fairfax, where we welcomed many talented storytellers, including first time teller Shye Gilad.
December: And on the 12th month, we rested. Mostly to focus on the awesome shows we have planned in 2014, starting with January’s show, “Carrying the Torch.” The first several months worth of 2014 storytelling shows are listed here.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for making 2013 a wonderful year for storytelling. We can’t wait to share more true, personal stories with you in 2014 and, who knows, maybe hear you tell a few?